Well, I'm shortly back off to Japan, for a school trip with students from the place where I teach. I was interested recently to discover some Shinto texts, which were from a different perspective than I expected. Not that I have actually read a lot of Shinto writings. See if they surprise you!
Ise Teijo, who lived from 1715-1784, said, ‘Never make an image to represent the Deity… an image made by mortal hands is of no use in Shinto Worship.’[1]
Another text:
'If one ceremoniously invited me to his abode by hanging up sacred straw ropes for thousands of days, yet would I not cross his threshold were he dishonest, harsh or greedy.'[2]
A third text, written by Shima-shigeoyu, Shinto priest of Izumo Shrine in the Tokugawa period goes as follows:
'Deem not that only in this earthly shrine the Deity doth reign; The Earth entire and all the Heavens divine, His presence do proclaim.'[3]
These passages resonate with me, as a follower of Christ, as fitting with biblical principles.
A third text, written by Shima-shigeoyu, Shinto priest of Izumo Shrine in the Tokugawa period goes as follows:
'Deem not that only in this earthly shrine the Deity doth reign; The Earth entire and all the Heavens divine, His presence do proclaim.'[3]
These passages resonate with me, as a follower of Christ, as fitting with biblical principles.
Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that religious groups around the world have developed many similar principles to each other. I wonder whether this could also contribute to dialogue between Shinto and Christian groups.
[1] Genchi Kato, A Study of Shinto: The Religion of the Japanese Nation, (London: Curzon Press, 2nd Edition, 1971), 185.
[2] Attributed to the Oracle of the Deity of Kasuga (Perhaps written by Shinto priest Urabe-no-kanetomo), in Kato, A Study of Shinto,(1971), 179-80.
[3] Kato, A Study of Shinto,(1971), 187.
[2] Attributed to the Oracle of the Deity of Kasuga (Perhaps written by Shinto priest Urabe-no-kanetomo), in Kato, A Study of Shinto,(1971), 179-80.
[3] Kato, A Study of Shinto,(1971), 187.
2 comments:
This is very interesting. I am a Theology major at Marquette University and I am currently writing a paper on Shinto. Are there any major texts that Shinto uses that you know of? I was having a little bit of trouble finding direct sources about Shinto. Thank you.
Yes... The myth of 'Amaterasu', is a story. 'The Oracle of the Deity of Kasuga'; and here are a couple of sources I have used: EARHART, H. Byron, Religion in the Japanese Experience: Sources
and Interpretations, Wadsworth Publishing Company, Second Edition, 1997.
KATO, Genchi, A Study of Shinto: The Religion of the Japanese
Nation, London: Curzon Press, 2nd Edition, 1971.
Not sure if that helps at all? Good luck, Gwyn.
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